Jesse it



(No Model.) J U CANOPY TOP FOR VEHICLES.

Patented Sept. 26, 1893.

UMT STATES PATENT EEtcE.

JEsSE U. TABOR, or LoS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AsSIeNoR TO THE TABOR CARRIAGE WORKS, OF SAME PLACE.

, CANOPY-TOP FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,544, dated September 26, 1893 Application filed June 26, 1893;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JESSE U. TABOR, a sub-. ject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Canopy-Tops for Ve- 11310165, of which. the following is a specifica- The object of my invention is to provide a neat, cheap,light and effective canopy top for vehicles, one which will be adjustable and will be adapted tobe lowered out of the way, and folded into compact shape when desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved means for automatically spreading and folding the back leaf of the canopy as the canopy supports are elevated and lowered.

A further object of my invention is to prov1de a folding canopy top, which, when lowered will resemble in appearance an ordinary carriage top with the duster thrown across the top and extending to the top of the lazyback.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective side elevation of a canopy top embodying my invention, and.

secured in place upon the seat of a vehicle. In this view a portion of the trimming of the top is broken away to expose the construction. Fig.2 is a side elevation of myimproved canopy top with the trimming removed therefrom, the parts being shown in their folded position. Dotted lines indicate various positions in which the canopy may be adjusted and secured. Fig. 3 is a rear view of my improved brace coupling, by the use of which I am enabled to automatically elevate the rear leaf of the canopy when the canopy supports are raised, and to fold the said leaf and retain it in its folded position when the canopy supports are lowered. Fig. 4 is a fragmental detail showing the automatic hinge brace coupling with a fragment of each of the brace arms in position therein. Fig. 5 is a view of the reverse side of the same. Fig. 6 is a fragmental view showing in section the frictional joint whereby the canopy top may be secured in various positions. Fig. 7 is a fragmental detail illustrating the manner of Serial No.- 4'78,832. (No model.)

attaching the canopy supports to the canopy frame. Fig.8 is a sectional view illustrating the manner of trimming the joint between the main body and the leaf of the canopy to allow the leaves to be folded without leaving an opening through the canopy. Fig. 0 is a frag-mental plan view illustrating the same construction as Fig. 8.

In thedrawings, A represents the canopy support which is pivoted at its lower end to a vehicle B (only the seat of which is shown) and is adapted to stand upright as shown in Fig.1 to hold the canopy elevated or to swing upon its pivot 19 to lower the canopy as shown in Fig. 2. I

0 is a canopy which comprises the main body 0 which is attached to the top of the support Aand extends across the vehicle, and

two canopy shade leaves 0 c hinged respectively a rear leaf upon the rear side of such main body and a front leaf upon the front side of such main'body, each adapted to stand at an angle with the canopy support as shown in Fig. 1 and to be folded upon such Support as shown in Fig. 2 suitable means are provided to hold such leaves elevated and to allow them to be folded upon the supports. As shown in the drawings, these means consist 0f theleaf hinge brace arms D and D, hinged respectively at one end to the leaves a c and at their other ends to the canopy support A.

E is a canopy support hinge brace arm, which is pivoted at one end to the vehicle and is pivoted at its other end to the canopy support A by the pivot E, and is adapted support is in its upright position-as shown in Fig. 1, and to cause such leaf to fold against the support when the support is lowered, as shown in Fig. 2. The means whichI employ IOO - upon the pivot. E between the brace arms D and E, and provided in one side with the brace arm receiving seat f adapted and arranged to receive and seat the shade leaf hinge brace D therein, and provided upon its other side with a brace receiving seat f adapted to receive and seat the canopy -support hinge brace E therein; the seatf is larger than the shade brace D as shown in Fig. 7 in order to allow a slight rotation of one brace arm with relation to the other brace arm.

This is necessaryin order to'seeure automatic movement of the leaf together with graceful proportions of the two arms.

'6 is z-asuit-able friction, j oint provided :in the hinge brace arm -E and comprises an outer member e, an inner member '6' land a th'u-mb'nut 6" arranged to clam p thetwo menu bers togetherto support the'canopy-at an angle with thehorizon asshown in dottedlines in Fig. 2.

Inorder to form a joint whereby tllG'CLH. opy-leaves may be hinged to thema inzbody' and yet allow the leaves to be foldedupon thesnpportsA or to be elevated to stand at an angle thereto without tearing the meeting or trimming-I hinge th-e cano py shade leaves 0 c to the main body 0 by hinges 0" each arra-nged upon the lower side of the main body, and provideajoint closingsitrip Gpref- 'erably of leather, having one of its edges :9

secured tothetopof the main body C1, and having .its other edge 9 secured to the top of theleafec andhaving its-body g" folded-upon itself .and arranged depending between the opposing edges of .the main body :and the canopy shade leaf.

H'isa molding secured to the main canopy body C and projecting beyond the edge thereof to cover the .joint'between the body and-the leaf when the leaf :is raised, and his 1' :a,joint stop which .is provided at "each GIlCl'Off the shade leaves 0 ca'nd arranged projecting from the edgesof such leaf to engage the main bodyC' to hold theedges of the twoimemhers-apartintermediate the-stops, to thereby avoid undue compression of the depending body 5g" of i'the joint strip G, which undue pressure would soon destroy the leather.

elevatedpositionby'means of the canopysupports-A, the canopy support hinge braces E,

and the leaf hinge braces D D .as shown in i Fig. 1; when it is-desired to-changethe position of the canopy for any reason, such for instance, as the'changeof position-of the vepivots-to lower the canopy; the hinge braces- -E, operating through the medium of the brace coupling F causes the rear leaf supthe rider from wind or sun.

porting hinge brace D to double upon itself and to fold such rear leaf against the supports as shown in Fig. 2, and, also operates to hold the leaf folded thereagainst until the canopy supports are again raised into an upright position; when such supportsare raised the operation just described is reversed and the leaf is automatically raised. In case it is desired to simply lower the canopy part way, it may bequickly adjusted and secured in place by tightening the friction joint 6 to hold the hinge braces E rigid to support the canopy in the desired position. If desired, the front'leaf 0' may be folded against the supports A'as shown in Fig. 2, and will then serve to prevent dust or dirt, &c from falling uponthelli ning of the rearleaf c; or such front leaf may be lifted as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, toshield the back of It'will thus be seen that vI am enabled to provide a-cheap,

-simple,and convenient .canopytop which may be folded intosm-all'compass,andwhich :may

be quickly adjusted to suit any ordinary conditions.

The canopy supports Aias shown areformed in the same manner 1 as the ordinary tubular canopy elevated the :proper distance above the seat.

In the drawings l-hav-e shown thesupports each formed of two members a and 'a'in order to secure'strength and rigidity, and lIprovide a strengthening brace a" "which isnarrangedbet-weenthetwo membersiof each-support to cause the :two mem bers to mutually support each-other andzptrevent-the weiglrtof the top from bending the bows when thesupports are lowered as shown :in :Fig. :2. The tubular supports or braces A are secured to the main body O of the canopyrtop b'yzmeans of metallic Jknees K which are thic-kened at the angle is to2give-strengthto the'connection.

The canopyas :shown is supported by two supports, arranged one upon each side of the vehicle, and two support hinge braces are shown also arranged one upon each 'side of the vehicle.

When the canopy is in its lowered and 1 folded position it presents the same .gen'eral In .practice, the'canopy is supportediin its 1 appearance-as aacarriage 'top when lowered and having a hood or 1 duster :stretchedfrom the top of the front bow to=the lazy-back.

New, havingdescri-bed-my-invention,what I claim as new, and desire :to secureby Letters Patent,:is-

1. In a canopy top, the combination of a support pivoted at :its lower end to -'a vehicle andadapted to stand upright to support the canopy and to be lowered to :lower't'he canopy; a suitablesupportiug-hingebrace pivoted at one end to the vehicle-andpivoted-at its other end to the'support a-nd adapted to hold the support upright and to allow it to be swung upon its pivot to lower the canopy; a main canopy body attached to the top of such support and extending across the vehicle; two canopy shade leaves hinged respectively one upon each side of such main body and adapted to stand at an angle with such canopy support and to be folded upon such support, and

suitable means adapted and arranged to hold such leaves elevated and to allow themto be folded upon the support.

2. In a canopy top having a suitable support hinged at its lower end to a vehicle and having a hinge brace pivoted atone end to the vehicle and pivoted at its other end to the support and adapted to hold such support upright and to allow it to be swung upon its pivot to lower the canopy, and having a canopy shade leaf adapted to be folded upon such support or to be held at an angle thereto, the

combination therewith of a canopy shadeleaf hinge brace pivoted at one end to such shade leaf and having its other end operatively c011- nected with the canopy support hinge brace and adapted and arranged to be operated by such brace tocause the leaf to stand at an angle to the support when the support is in its upright position, and to cause such leaf to foldagainst the support when the support is lowered.

3. In a canopy top, the combination of the canopy support pivoted at its lower end to a vehicle and adapted to stand upright to hold the canopy elevated and to be swung upon its pivot to lower the canopy; a suitable hinge brace pivoted at one end to the vehicle and pivoted at its other end to the support and adapted to be extended to hold the support in its upright position and to double upon itself to allow the support to be swung upon its pivot tolower the canopy; a suitable canopy secured to such support and comprising a main body and a leaf hinged to such main body, such leaf being adapted and arranged to stand at an angle tothe support and to be folded thereagainst; and suitable operative means adapted and arranged to hold such leaf at an angle with such support when the support isin its upright position, and adapted and arranged to hold such leaf folded against the support when such support is in its lowered position.

4:. In a canopy top, the combination of the canopy support pivoted at its lower end to a vehicle and adapted to stand upright to hold the canopy elevated and to be swung upon its pivot to lower the canopy; a suitable hinge brace pivoted at one end to the vehicle and pivoted at its other end to the support and adapted and arranged to hold the support in its upright position and to allow it to be swung upon its pivot to lower the canopy; a suitable canopy secured to such support, and comprising a main body and a leaf hinged to such main body, such leaf being adapted and arranged to stand at an angle to the support and to be folded thereagainst; suitable operative means connecting such leaf with the support hinge brace, and adapted and artwo canopy supports arranged one upon each side of a vehicle and eachpivoted at its lower end to the vehicle and adapted to stand upright to hold the canopy elevated and to be swung uponits pivot to lower the canopy; two suitable hinge braces, arranged one upon each side of the vehicle and each pivoted at one end to the vehicle and pivoted at its other end to its respective support aud adapted to be extended to hold such support in its upright position and to double upon itself to allow such support to be swung upon its pivot to lower the canopy; a canopy comprising a main body and two leaves, such leaves being hinged respectively one upon each side of such main body, the main body being secured to the canopy supports and such leaves being adapted to stand at an angle to such supports and to be folded thereagainst, and suitable operative means adapted and arranged tohold such leaves at an angle to the supports and to allow them to be folded thereagainst.

. 6. In a canopy top, the combination of the two canopy supports arranged one upon each side of a vehicle and each pivoted at its lower end to the "ehicle and adapted to stand upright to hold the canopy elevated and to be swung upon its pivot to lower the canopy; two suitable hinge braces arranged one upon each side of the vehicle and each pivoted at one end to the vehicle and pivoted at its other end to its respective support and adapted to be extended to hold such support upright and to double upon itself to allow the support to be swung upon its pivot to lower the canopy; a canopy, comprising a main body secured to the upper ends of such supports and a front and a rear leaf, hinged respectively one upon the front side of said main body and one upon the rear side of such body, and each adapted and arranged to stand at an angle with the supports and to be folded against such supports; suitable means arranged to hold the front leaf at an anglewith the supports and to allow it to fold thereagainst, and suitable operative means connecting the rear leaf with each of the support hinge braces and adapted and arranged to be operated by such hinge braces to hold such leaf at an angle with the supports when the supports are in their upright position, and to fold such leaves against the supports when such sup ports are lowered.

7. In a folding canopy top, the combination of the canopy supports arranged one uponeach side of a vehicle and each having its lower end pivoted to such vehicle, and adapted and arranged to stand upright to hold the canopy elevated and to swing upon its pivot to lower the canopy; two canopy support hinge brace.

braces, arranged one upon each side of such vehicle, andeac'h having its lower end pivototed -to th'e'vehicle and having its upper end. pivoted to its respective canopy su pport,'and adapted and arranged to hold such support in its upright position and to allow it to swing upon its pivot to 'lowerthe canopy; a-canopy, comprising a body provided with a 'rearcanopy-shade leaf hinged tosuch body and'ada-pt:

ed to stand at an angle to the canopy supports and to be folded thereagainst; two canopy shade leaf hinge braces, each pivoted at one; end to the rear shade leaf, and pivoted at'itsv other end'upon the upper pivot-of its respective canopy support hinge brace; the brace connection comprising a collar adapted to *fiti upon'the upper pivot of the support of the hinge brace and provided uponone s'ide w-ithi a suitable'seat'eadapted and arranged to seat the canopysupport hinge brace arm'the'rein andprovided 'upouits other side with a'seat adapted'and arranged to=seat th-ecan opy *leafj hingebracearn-oneof suchsea-ts being wider;

than its respective'armvto allow a-s'light rota tion of one brace with relation to the otherj 8. In afolding canopy top, theeombination of the main body; the canopy shadeleaf hingedto such main body-by-a hinge arranged on the lower=side-of such body; a join-tclosing strip having one of its edges secured to the top of themain body, andhav-ingits other such leaf to engagethe main body-to hol'd t'he edges of the=two members "apart intermediate the-stops.

10. In a 'fol'd ing *canopy top having *a-canopy-support hinge brace "and a canopy-shade "leaf hinge 'braceeach=pi'votedby'one end upon the same'p'ivot, the brace "COU'PIIDgCODIPTIS- ing a collarad-apted to fitupon said pivotibe- "tween the itwo braee'sand provided inonesidc *with the brace 'r'e'ceivin g "seat adapted to receive and seat the shade"leaf hinge-brace therein, and provided upon itsotherside-wl'th thebrace'rece'ivingseatadapted andarranged to receive and seat the canopy-support hinge brace =thierein, one-'of "such braceseats belng 'larger than its'respective brace "-a arranged and adapted to allow'slight rotation of one brace arm with relation to th e otherbraee arm.

J ESSE U. TA B'OR. Witnesses:

CHARLES "UDELL,

ALFRED I. TOWNSEND. 

